Zhuhai, China | November 2, 2016,China Southern signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with GE Aviation today at the 2016 Airshow China to select GE’s GEnx-1B engines to power its twelve newly purchased and eight leased Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. The engine order is valued at $1.1 billion USD at list price. Delivery of these aircraft will begin in 2018.

“China Southern has been dedicated to offering eco-friendly and comfortable travel experience to passengers with advanced and reliable aircraft engines. Since the first delivery of the GEnx-1B-powered B787-8 aircraft in 2013, this fleet has been performing very well in our operation,” said Li Tongbin, executive vice president and chief engineer of China Southern Airlines. “The GEnx-powered B787 Dreamliner fleet has given us great support in our business growth. Through our closer cooperation, the dispatch reliability of China Southern’s fleet powered by GE engines have achieved top level of the world. ”

“We appreciate China Southern’s continuous confidence in our products and service,” said Chaker Chahrour, vice president and general manager of Global Sales and Marketing at GE Aviation. (or Weiming Xiang, president of GE Aviation Greater China. “China Southern and GE Aviation have enjoyed a long-term cooperation since the airline was the Asia launch customer for the GE90 engine on the Boeing 777 aircraft in the 1990s. Since then, we have been working together very well, and we look forward to our further collaboration for many years to come.”

More than 1,600 GEnx-1B engines have been sold to 51 customers. Compared to GE's CF6 engine, the GEnx engine offers up to 15 percent better fuel efficiency, which translates to 15 percent less CO2. The GEnx's innovative twin-annular pre-swirl (TAPS) combustor dramatically reduces NOx gases as much as 55 percent below today's regulatory limits and other regulated gases as much as 90 percent. Based on the ratio of decibels to pounds of thrust, the GEnx is the quietest engine GE produces due to the large, more efficient fan blades that operate at slower tip speed, resulting in about 40 percent lower noise levels.

The GEnx is part of GE's "ecomagination" product portfolio - GE's business strategy to develop new, cost-effective technologies that enhance customers' environmental and operating performance.